TEMPORARILY CLOSED, REOPENING IN SPRING

PRIVATE WALKING PHOTOGRAPY TOURS

Private tours will focus on your photography needs and schedule. Maybe you need a tune up before heading out on an expensive international safari, just have a few free hours in the DC metro area and are looking for things to do, want to scope possible location for a photography shoot, or are looking for a team-building activity as part of a corporate meeting. I’ll work with you to understand your goals and photography experience, and we will put together a tour that is specific to your needs and schedule. Private tours are booked by the hour at a rate of $60/hr, whether it is for one person or ten. Invite some friends and have some fun! Contact me to discuss details and schedule. I will do my best to try to accommodate last minute requests, but a minimum notice of 72 hours is strongly recommended.

SCHEDULED WALKING PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS

Each of the tours listed below takes a different route, practices different skills, and covers unique aspects of Alexandria’s history. Take just one, or all. We will stop at a number of sites that are historically significant and pre-selected to allow you to practice specific skills. All tours are led by a local Alexandria experienced photographer. Once you register, you will receive email instructions to help you get the most out of the tour. Afterwards, you will receive a follow-up email to recap what you learned. All tours are held outside, and require walking approximately 0.5 to 1.5 mile, so please dress accordingly.

Perfect summer evening in Old Town! Bring any kind of camera on the tour and have fun!

George Washington's Town Home

Summer Twilight Tours

Summer evenings – when the heat breaks, the breeze picks up, and the sky goes through a glorious transition – are the right time to see the highlights of Old Town Alexandria. Instead of wandering with an ice cream cone in hand (tempting, I know!), stroll with a camera and collect perfect visual mementos of your evening in town.

The best Old Town gems are hidden in plain sight, if you know where to look. See where a young George Washington drilled his militia, or where he addressed the public or the first time as President. Wander the waterfront which has undergone numerous transformations; once one of the busiest ports in the American colonies, now a delightful collection of bobbing boats, performers and lively outdoor dining spots.

Along the way, learn different photography tips at each stop – perfect for Smartphone cameras or DSLRs. You will also be given the opportunity to take great photos of yourself, or each other, if desired. Whether you’re a complete beginner or fairly advanced, I can help you take better pictures. We’ll wrap just in time to get an ice cream cone!

Tour offered on Saturdays from 7:30 – 9:00 PM, with a 10 person max, and is dog-friendly. Fee $35 pp.

Walk & Snap

Talk a walk, snap your best photos, learn photography tips and hear highlights of Old Town Alexandria’s rich history. This one-hour walking tour, led by an Old Town photographer, will take you to historically significant and photogenic sites, such as the building where the seeds of the American Revolution were planted (no, it’s not in Boston!) and picture-perfect, hidden cobblestone alleys. At each stop, you’ll learn photography tips and be given an opportunity to snap those perfect vacation mementos. We’ll focus on Colonial America Old Town and explore it through George Washington’s eyes. The route will take us past key locations where he lived, worked, or played, starting from the time he was 17 and continuing to shortly before his death.

This tour is designed for Smartphone cameras, with a maximum of 10 people, and is pet-friendly. We will walk approximately 0.5 miles and be outside for the duration of the tour.

Night Photography

When the sun goes down, photography changes! Slow exposures offer the opportunity to create images that don't exist for the human eye. The artistic potential of night photography is unlimited and with digital cameras and Smartphone apps, it’s never been easier. Some previous photographic experience is ideal for this workshop. During this two-hour tour we will work on exposure time, composition of night shots, painting subjects with light, while also discussing highlights of Alexandria’s history. The route will stay close to the Torpedo Factory and harbor.

You will be provided with a small tripod to use during the tour. This tour is appropriate for SLR/CSC and Smartphones, with a maximum of 6 people and is pet-friendly.

Learn how to add creative blur to your photos such as this one taken in front of the Robert E Lee childhood home.

The Easy Way to Get Creative Control of Your Camera

Are you too overwhelmed by terms like f-stop, shutter speed and ISO to even consider taking your expensive SLR/CSC out of automatic mode and frustrated as a result? There is an easier way to master full control of your camera and get the creative photos you want! Given how sophisticated today’s digital cameras have become, there’s little need to shoot in full manual mode. Most pros don’t! You don’t need it to get the gorgeous creative effects that most people want in their photos, like blurred water, fuzzy backgrounds, or streaming lights. Join this tour to learn how to master just two shooting modes and gain full creative control as a result. This route will focus on the Lee family: Robert E. Lee, and his father and uncles, who were all famous in their own right and all of whom lived in Old Town. We’ll see their homes and key locations where major events occurred in their lives. This 2-hour tour is for SLR/CSCs only, with a maximum of 10 people, and is pet-friendly.